Railway signaling.



Us rrnn STATES PATENT orrron'.

JACOB B. STRUB LE, OF WILKlNSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN-OR TO THE UNION SWITCH .80 SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVVISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY slewALme.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

Application filed Mar'ch 12, i902. Serial No; 97,861.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB B. STRUBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling, of, which the following is a specifi- It is customary in electric railways to employ direct current for operating the car or train motors andto employ one or both of the rails as a return-conductor for the propulsion-current.

An object of the present invention is to preventthe operative action of all currents other than an alternating signaling-current on the railway signals. i

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View illustrating a portion of an electric ra lway equipped with a signaling system embodying my: invention. Fig. 2 is a view simllar to Fig. 1 and illustrating amodification of my invention. F g. 3 is a view similar to F gs. '1 and 2 and illustrating an other modification of my invention. Fig. 4 is a view sim lar to Fig. 1 and'illustratng another mod'fication of my invention. 5 is a detail view of a reactance, impedance, or

- all.

thoke coil which may be employed in my invention.

Similar numerals of reference" designate corresponding parts in all of. the figures.

Referring now to the drawings, 0 of the lines of rails of the-ra lway is'shown as being divided into a series of sections 1 2 3, &c.' by means of insulationat suitable points, while the other line of rails 4 is made electrically continuous and serves as a return-conductor in the art.

14 designates a railway-signal, at least one being provided at the beginning or each block-section. T he railway-signal 14 may be of any desired construction, and it preferably comprises a semaphore and mechanism or means for moving the semaphore from one position of indication to-another. i

5 designates an alternating-signaling-current generator. One pole of the alternatingcurrent generator is connected with the line of rails 4, while the other pole of the generator is connected with a conductor 5 ,.extending along the railway, and which atv some point-for example, at the end. of the railway-is electrically joined to the line of rails 4.

6 designates transformers, at least .one transformer being provided for each blocksection. As shown in the drawings, the primary windings of the transformers are in series with-the conductor 5*, and 'tlierefore'with of the primary windings of the transformers may be provided,

he empl l fent of an induced current for' the track-circuit' of each block-section permits of a high-tension current in the feed-cond'uctors extending from the generator. To prevent an excessive amount of alternating current flowing in the track-circuit when a. train is in the block-section, a reststance 7 is arranged in the track-circuit, (as shown in one of the connections of the secondary winding with a track-raiL) or each transformer 6 may be built with such resistance as is Well known The trackcircuit of each blocksection also includes as a part thereof a translating mechanism 8, and this term'is used in 1 its broadest sense and includes any mechan ism-whereby the alternating signaling-cur rent of the track-circuit is employed for producing by induction or otherwise a current.

in another cincuiflas illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, or whereby the signalingcurrent in the track-circuit is translated into motion, as, illustrated in Figs, 2, 3, and. 4; the one class of mechanism bein fotthe urpose of this invention the eciiulvalent of t e other- In the system illustrate in Fig; l-the translat L ing mechanisnifordevices is shown as being in the form of a transformer, which may be of any desired form or construction known in the artsuch as a Converter, a transformer, a motor-generator, &c..whereby the alternating signalingrcurrent in the track-circuit induces a current in another or secondary circuit 9. As shown, the secondary circuit may include a relay 10, having an armature 11.

While the block-section 2 is unoccupied by a train, the alternating signalin -current in the track-circuit, which, as state includes a transformer 6, the opposite track-rails of the block-section or portions thereof and a translating mechanism 8, will produce a current in the secondary circuit '9, thereby energizing the relay 10; but as soon as the alternating signaling-current in the'track-circuit is shuntedby the wheels and axles of a car or train from the translating mechanism the relay 10 will become deenergized, and the armature 11 will drop away from the contact-point 12, thereby openim the circuit 13, controlling the si nal'14. The semaphore of the railwaysigma 14, when no train is in its block-section, is preferably in the clear position of indication; but when a train or car is in the block-section which it controls the semaphore will move or be moved to the danger position of indication, this being accomplished by opening the circuit 13, controlled y the relay 10, which is deenergized in the mannerhereinbefore stated by the train or car in the block-section. The current for the circuit 13 may be had from any suitable source as, for example, from the generator 5 through a converter 15, as shown in Fig. 1.

To revent the translating mechanism being a ected by direct currents, which may be either the ropulsion-current or stray foreign currents, fpreferably provide a non-inductive resistance 16, whch may be.made ad justable in accordance with rules Well known in the art in series with the rimary winding of each transformer. Whi e this resistance would reduce also the amount of useful alternating current passing through the translating mechanism, this loss is less objectionable than the heating produced by an excessive flow of direct current through the translating mechanism. The 1 translating mechanism may be still further safeguarded from heating orbein effectively. operated by direct current in t e track circuit by means of a rea'ctance," impedance,- or choke" coil 17, constructed in accordance with the rules well-, known in the'art and connected across the wires connectin the translating mechanism rail-sections 1, 2, 3, &c., to the continuous line of rails 4, and'when suchcoils are arranged so that the ends of thesections are signal may be included connected to the continuous line of rails 4 the direct current will flow from rail 4 to one end of an insulated rail-section, along the same, and then back to rail 4 until it reaches the reactance-coil 17, connecting the continuous line of rails 4 to the next insulated rail-section, so that both rails will carry the full return-current. If the insulatedrail-sections be connected by reactance-coils, as shown and described in [my a plic'ation for patent, Serial No. 82,523, file both lines-of rails can be used as a return for the motor-current without necessaril crossing, as in the arrangement hereinbe ore described. Each reactance-coil is .made With low ohmic resistance, so as to afford an eas path for the direct current from-rail to rai while the flow of alternating current is lar ely prevented by the reactive effect of self-in uction, so that the reactance-coil has a choking efiect on ,the alternating signaling-current, but not on direct currents.

In lieu of controlling or oper ating the railway-signal 14 through a relay by currents induced in a secondary circuit, the translating mechanism for controllin or"'operating the firectly in the sec ondary circuit 9, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or the translating mechanism may be made in the form of a motor 8, included in the trackequivalent construction,) as shown in application Serial No. 97,862, filed March 12; 1902, and these tongues 20'are surrounded by one or more turns 21 of wire or metal tape November 16, 1901,

properly insulated and forming closed circuits. A circuit 13 for operating or'controlling the railway-signal 14 includes a contactarm 22 on the armature 19 and a contactpoint 23. A sprin'g'24 is so connected to'the armature and the contact-arm as to tend to move the arm away from the contact-point and open circuit 13.

If while the block-section is occupied by'a train the wheels and axles thereto will shunt the alternating signaling-current in the trackcircuit from the translating mechanism, there by allowing the armature thereof to be Shift-7 ed by the spring and open circuit 13, a direct current should pass through the coils 18 of the relay, the entire area of the poles of the magnet and of the armature would be magalternating signaling-current to flow through v the coil 18, (the direct current still persisting,)

the signaling-current in the coils 18 would tween the poles of the magnet through the armature, thereby inducing an alternating current in coils-21 opposite the current in the coils 18. This oppositely-induced current will produce a magnetic-field in the armature equal to twice the thickness of the tongues and opposing that roducedby the current through coils 18'.

ends of the armature the center of attraction or pull will beshifted, so that the armature in lieu of being held in ,alinement between the poles of the magnet will 'be shifted to an angular position, the angularity being depend entupon' the proportions of the areas neutralized to the whole areas of the ends of the armature. The contact-point 23'should' be v so located that when the armature. is in its an ular position the circuit ,13 will be closed to hold the signal at clear position.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that portions of the poles of -.the magnet may be neutralized, producing the same effect, as regards themaintenance of the signal in clear position, as fully described and claimed in application Serial No. 97,862, In the constructions filed March 12, 1902.

" set forth-insaid application the current in the closedcircuits'surrounding the tongues of the magnet is induced by the alternating signaling-current in the coil or coils 18, while in the construction havlng the closed circuit surrounding the tongues on the armature the currents in said circuits are induced by the alternating magnetic currents flowing back and forth through they armature.

"'It is characteristic of the constructionshown in Fig. 4 that in case a direct current reaches the coils 18 of the relay when the alternatmg si nalingcurrent is shunted su'ch current will ave no effect except to reinforce the action ofthe retractive spring to hold shunting of the alternating signaling-current open'the circuit 13, which was openedby the in the track-circuit. It will be understood that if desired reactance-coils 17. may be employed-in this form of my invention in the manner 'hereinb'efore setforth and for the same pur oses.

6 designates a direct current generator,

and ,6" a feed-conductor extending therefrom along the line of railway and from which cur.- rent is obtained for the motors of the cars traveling along the railway. The return for the power-current is through the track-rails, the insulated sections 1 2 3,, &c., being bond y thus practically neuf tralizing a portion of the magnetic area of the i 5 trolarailwaysrgnal. n

- 5; In a signaling system for railways the them, but will retard or impede the flow of the alternatingsignaling-current. In the inven:

tion of this application the alternating sig naling-current is confined to the individual produce an alternating rnagnetic field be-.

blocks byreason of the insulations located in the line of rail which is divided to form blockv sections. v

It is characteristic of my improvement that in all cases the translating mechanism becomes operative to set the signal to one position when and only when such translating mechanism is oprated on or affected by an alternating signaling-current. In some of the forms shown and described a direct cur-- rent cannot operatively aifect the translating mechanism, and in the other forms the efiect of the direct current is only cumulative in the direction of a force previously. or simultaneously operative to set the signal to the danger position of indication. 4

. What I claim as my invention is 1; A railway signaling system, having in- I ,combination a source of alternating current,

'a track-circuit in circuit with the source of alternating current, a reactance-coil connect ed across the track-rails of the track-circuit,

and a translating mechanism operative to control a railway-signal-by an alternating current in the track-circuit.

2. In a signaling system for railways, in which one line of rails thereof is electrically continuous and the other line of rails is divided into sections insulated or electrically" separated from each other, the combination of a source of alternating-Si'naling-current 1 col supply connected with the e ectrically-con tinuous track-rail and. an insulated section of the other track rail, and reactance-coils connecting the continuous line of rails with the 1.05

insulated rail-sections. 3. In a signaling.system-for'railways have ries of track-circuits each of which comprises an insulated section of rail and aportion of the continuous line of rails,..a source of alternating-signalingcurrent supply for each track-circuit, a translating mechanism. for

each track-circuit and operable'by the alternating signaling-current in its-track-circuitand' reactance-coils connecting the-insulated rail-sections with the-continuous line-of rails.

4; A closed track-circuit for'railway signaling-pur oses, comprising. track-rails, a

source of aternating-curr'ent supply and a translating mechariism operable bythe alternating current and construci'edto induce a current in another circuit and ries of transformergonc being provided for each trackcircuit, a translating mechanismthereby con.- Y 1 I 5 for each track-circuit and constructedto in- .duce a current in anotherjcircuit and thereby, control a ra1lways1gnal, and a serles of railway-signals, one bemg provlded for each track-circuit.

6. In a signaling system for railways, the

combination of a series of track-circuits, an

alternating-current generator, a series V of transformers, one being provided for each track-circuit, a translating mechanism for each track-circuit, operable by-the alternating cu'rrentof the track-circuit, and constructed toiinduce a current'in another circuit and thereby control a-railway-sig nal, a

series of railway-signals, one being provided,

for. each track-circuit, and a reactance-coil connected across the terminals of eachtranslating'device. I I

7. a signaling system for railways having one of its lines of rails electrically continuous and its other line of rails divided intoinsulated sections, the combination of a series of track-circuits, an alternating-si nalingcurrent generator, a series of transformers, one being provided for each track-circuit, a translating mechanism for each track-circuit operable by the alternating signaling-current ofthe track-circuit and constructed'to induce v a current in another circuit and thereby control a railway-signal, a seriesof railway-signals, one being provided for each track-circult, and reactance-coils for connecting the insulated rail-sections with the continuous insulated rail-sections with the continuous i rail.

9. -A track-circuit for railway signaling purposes comprising an alternating-current supply, a translating mechanism and a reac tanc'e-coiL' v 10. In a signaling system, the combination with a closed track circuit including a source of alternating current supply, a reactancecoil and a translating mechanism, of a signal, and a circuit for said signal which is controlled by said translating mechanism.

1 1 J In'combination with a track-circuit for signaling purposes, analternating-current supply or said track-circuit, a translating mechanism in circuit with said track-circuit and responsive in its operation tothe' absence or presence of alternatinglcurrent in the trackclligult to control ai-signa and means forpreventing direct current from effectively operating the translating mechanism in its control of the signal.

, 12. A closed track-circuit for railway sig naling systems com rising a source of alternating-current supp y, a translating mechanism which is responsive tothe alternating- -current supply for the track-circuit, and

means for shunting a direct current in the track-circuit from the translating mechanism.

13. A closed track-circuit for railway signaling system com rising portions of trackrails, a source of a ternating-cu'rrent supply connected with the track-rails, a reactancecoil which'is connected with both track-rails and a translating mechanism also connected with the track-rails.-

14. A signaling system for railways in which one of the track-rails is electrically continuous and the other of which track-rails is divided into insulated sections; the combination of a series of closed track-circuits eachof which comprises a portion of the electricallycontinuous track-rail and an insulated section of the other track-rail, a source of alternating-s'gnaling-current supply, a translating mechanism, and a reactance-coil which is connected across both track-rails and included in the track-circuit; and a series of railwaysignals at least one of which is controlled from eachtranslating mech anism.

15. A closed track-circuit for railway signaling system comprising asource of alternating current located at one end of the track-circuit, a translating mechanism located at the other endof the track-circuit and a reactance-coil.

16. A s stem of electrical distribution and signaling or railways, comprising two sources of electrical energy delivering currents difi'ering in character, conductors of which both rails form a part and said rails divided into blocks through which the currents from said sources of'energy are transmitted, a signaling device in each block, a source of energy therefor, and means interposed between the rails of each block and each signaling device and normally adapted to actuate mechanism to close a circuit through a source of energy connected to a signaling device and to be. rendered inoperative when a car enters a block.

17..In a system of 'electrical distribution and signaling'for railways, the combination of two sources of electrical energy delivering currents differing in character, two trackrails, one continuous and the other divided into sections to form blocks, and meansinterposed insaid track-rails whereby the current from one of said sources of energy will flow through said railsas a return-path and the current from thev other sourceof ener y be limited in its effects to the individual b ocks.

18'. In a system of electrical distribution and signaling foi railways, the combination 'oftwo sources of electrical energy delivering currents differing in character, two trackrails and means interposed in said track-rails whereby the current from one of said sources of energy will flow through said rails as a return-path and the current from the other source ofenergy bclimited in its effects to the individual blocks.

,19. In combination with a railway the rails of which are emplo ed as a return for direct currentemployed or the motor'sof cars I travelin along the railway, a 'signaling system, sai system comprising atseries of trackcircuits,an alternati'n signaling-current genf means for limiting the effect of the'alternating signaling-current to the track-circuits, but permitting the direct current to pass from the track-rails of one track-circuit to the track-rails of another track-circuit.

20. In combination with a railwa the I rails of which are employed as a return or di- I euits, an alternating-signaling-current generrect current employed or the motors of cars traveling along the railway, a direct-current generator, a feed-conductor extending along the line of railway, and a signaling system, said system comprising a series of track-cirator, means for supplyin alternating signal ing-current to said trac -circuits from the alternatin -signalin -current enerator, and means for imiting t e efi'ecto the-alternating signaling-current to the track-circuits, but permitting the direct current to pass from the track-rails from onetrack-circuit to tor-vehicles actuated by the direct current,

the track-rails of another track-circuit.

21. In combination with a railway the rails of which are employed as a return or ground for the propulslon-current for the carmotors, a signaling system, said system comprisin track-circuits, a translating mechanism an a source of alternatin signaling current for each track-circuit an means for shunting the propulsion-current from the translating mechanisms.

22.111 combination With a railwaythe rails of which are employed as a return or ground for the propulsion-current for the canniotors, a signaling system, said system comprisin track-circuits, a translating mech anism an a source of alternatin signalingcurrent for each track-circuit an means for limiting the effect of the alternating signaling-current. to the track-circuits, but permittin thepropulsion current to flowfrom the .rai s of one track-circuit to the rails of another track-circuit.

3,23. In combination with a railwa the rails of which are emplo ed as return or di rect current employed or the motors of the cars traveling along the railway, a directcurrent generator, a feed-conductor extend- .ing along the line of railway, and a signaling system, said system comprising a series of track-circuits, an alternating-signaling-current generatonmeans for supplying alternating signaling-current to said track-circuits from the alternating-current generator, and reactance-coils for limiting the effect of the alternating signaling-current to the trackcircults, but permitting direct current to flow from therails of one track-circuit to the rails of anothertrack-circuit.

24. In combination with a railwathe rails of which are employed as a retur 32hr direct current employed tor" the motors of the cars traveling along the railway and one of said .rails belng electrically continuous: and the other of said rails being divided into insulated sections, a feed-conductorcextending along the line of railway, and a signaling syscircuits, anv alternating-signalin current generator, means for supplying a ternating current to said track-circuitsfrom the altersections with the continuous rail.

' 25. In a system of electricaldistribution of two sources of electrical energy delivering currents differing in character, outgoing feeder-conductors, two track-rails, one continuous and the other divided into sections to form blocks, and a reactance device connected across the rails of each block.

26. A signaling system comprising a source naling-current, a feeder for the direct current and a common returnfor both currents, mo-

signaling devices actuated by the alternating signaling-current, and means'controlled by the movement of the motor-vehicle for con vice.

27 A signaling system comprising a source of direct current, a source of alternating signaling-current,,a feeder for the direct current, a common return for both currents, motor-vehicles actuated from the source of direct-current energy, signaling devices actuated from the source of alternating-signalingcurrent en'er y, and means carried by the moving vehic es and adapted to shunt the al ternatlng signaling-current around the signaling devices.

28. A si naling system comprising two sources of e lectri'c energy delivering currents differing in character, a system of conductors involvin' a common return for both currents from sai sourcesof energ motor-vehicles actuated the current om one of said sources of'energ'y, signaling devices actuated currents transmitted, and means carried by the movingvehicles' for shunting the current tern, said system comprising a series of track of direct current,- a source of alternating sig-' trolling the movement of the signaling dema ntaining electric separation of the ,two;

natingsignaling-current generator, and reactance-coils connecting the-insulated railand signaling for railways, the combinatiornl used to operate the signals around any one of the signals.

29. A signaling system comprising two sources of current diflering in character, a system of distributing-conductors over which both currents are transmitted and formed in part by both rails of a railway, a motor-vehi cle on such rails, a series of signaling-circuits over which only one of such currents is transmitted, signalin devices in said signalingcircuits, means for maintaining the electric separation of the two currents and confining their individual action to certain apparatus; one current to the operation of the motor-vehicle and the other to the operation of the signals together with means carried by the ve' hicle for cutting a signaling device out of circuit.

30. A si naling system comprising two sources of e ectric energy differing in character, a distributing-circuit for the currents from said sources of energy formed in part by both rails of the railway, motor-vehicles actuated by the current from one source of energy, signaling devices in said distributin circuit, electrically independent of eac other and adapted to be operated by the ,current from the other source of energy, means for effecting and maintaining the separation of the two currents generated and delivering said currents to the respective apparatus designed to be operated thereby,a moving vehicle carrying means for electrically isolating a signal when a vehicle moves into the portion of the distributingcircuit in which said signal is located.

31. In combination, two'sources of electric energy, a distribution-circuit for each source of energy, motor-vehicles operated from one of said sources of energy, a number of circuits electrically inde endent of each other for controlling signa 'ng devices and supplied with current from the othersource of ener y, and si naling devices.

32. n a signa ing system for railways the trackway of which is divided to form block.- sections, a signaling-circuit for each block, a source of alternatlng signaling-current for each of said signaling-circuits, a translating mechanism for each signaling-circuit, and reactance-coils connected across the rails of the block-sections.

33. In an electric railway system, a source of power-current of one character,,vehicles operated thereby, a circuit for said powercurrent comprising two conductors with which the car makes moving contact, one of which is formedby the track, independent signal-circuits in each of which the rails of the track form both sides, a source of current for said signal-circuit furnishing current of a diflere'nt character andfconnected to both rails, a signal device completing each signalcircuit, and reactance-coils connected across the track-rails of the signal-circuits.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JACOB B. STRUBLE.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, F. E. GAITHER. 

